relationships

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 10/01/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, society, by Daniel Christian

Proverbs 23:12

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Isaiah 53:1-6

53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

Ephesians 3:12

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 09/18/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Isaiah 42:1-4

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

Isaiah 38:17

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

Isaiah 40:11-14

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 09/13/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

2 Corinthians 9:6

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Psalms 105:1-4

Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Isaiah 16:5

In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

Why Christians need to support diversity professionals, not demonize them [Loyd-Paige]

On 09/06/2023, in Access to Justice (A2J), Bias | Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), business, colleges, community colleges, corporate / business world, hearts -- matters of the heart, higher education, morals/values, relationships, religion, society, sociology, trends, United States, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Why Christians need to support diversity professionals, not demonize them — from religionnews.com by Michelle Loyd-Paige
Even among Christians, DEI leaders find themselves isolated and unsupported.

For nearly 39 years, I have taught about and advocated for diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism and social justice in Christian contexts. I have been sustained by the knowledge that diversity is a part of God’s good creation and is celebrated in the Bible.

And not just diversity, but love for our neighbors, care for the immigrant, and justice for the marginalized and oppressed. In fact, the Hebrew and Greek words for justice appear in Scripture more than 1,000 times.

It could be argued that Jesus’ ministry on earth exemplified the value of diversity, the importance of inclusion and the obligation of justice and restoration. Our ministry — in schools, churches, business, wherever we find ourselves — should reflect the same.

From DSC:
I was at Calvin (then College) when Michelle was there. I am very grateful for her work over my 10+ years there. I learned many things from her and had my “lenses” refined several times due to her presentations, questions, and the media that she showed. Thank you Michelle for all of your work and up-hill efforts! It’s made a difference! It impacted the culture at Calvin. It impacted me.

The other thing that hepled me in my background was when my family moved to a much more diverse area. And I’ve tried to continue that perspective in my own family. I don’t know half of the languages that are spoken in our neighborhood, but I love the diversity there! I believe our kids (now mostly grown) have benefited from it and are better prepared for what they will encounter in the real world.

Some scripture for us — including, “What does the LORD require of us?”

On 09/03/2023, in Daniel S. Christian, faith, relationships, religion, society, by Daniel Christian

Micah 6:8

⁸He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.

Psalm 119:64

⁶⁴The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.

DC: I can’t see the LORD’s face — not in this lifetime. But I can try to fix my *thoughts* & *heart* on the LORD. Thus, slowly & over the years, the transformation is made — via what I think about & how I think.

“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

— Daniel Christian (he/him/his) (@dchristian5) August 31, 2023

Start these 3 classroom habits ASAP! — from etrievalpractice.org by Pooja K. Agarwal, Ph.D.

Habit #2: Engage students in a brain dump or two things as an entry ticket or exit ticket. Spend one minute or less having students write down everything (or just two things) they remember from class. The key: Don’t grade it! Keep retrieval practice no-stakes to emphasize it’s a learning strategy, not an assessment strategy.

Teaching from the heart in 13 steps — from timeshighereducation.com by Beiting He
Engaging your students through empathy requires teachers to share their own stories and vulnerabilities and foster a safe space for learning. Here, Beiting He offers 13 ways to create a caring classroom

Move student communication from passive to active using ‘I like, I wish, I wonder’ — from timeshighereducation.com by Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez
Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez introduces a methodology that encourages effective communication in digital learning processes

In summary, “I wish” is about proposing positive changes and improvements, while “I wonder” is about asking thoughtful questions to gain insight and foster meaningful conversations within the team.

Some food for our hearts and minds

On 08/28/2023, in ethics, faith, morals/values, relationships, religion, society, by Daniel Christian

2 Chronicles 15:2

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

John 6:29

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Psalms 103:1-5

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Some scripture/wisdom for us

On 08/25/2023, in global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Proverbs 20:9

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?

Ecclesiastes 7:12

Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

Psalms 94:18-19

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13

David’s Prayer

¹⁰David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord,
    the God of our father Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
¹¹Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
¹²Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
¹³Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.

Some wisdom for us

On 08/09/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Proverbs 19:22

What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Some scripture for us

On 07/29/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Psalms 89:11

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.

Proverbs 18:13

To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.

Romans 10:9-11

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Psalm 112:5

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalm 119:93

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

Some scripture for us

On 07/17/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, society, by Daniel Christian

Proverbs 17:9
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:3

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 17:7
Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

“Do you remember a time when someone truly listened to you?” [Mehrabi]

On 07/07/2023, in attention, collaboration, communications, culture, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, Emotion, face-to-face, hearts -- matters of the heart, ideas, psychology, relationships, religion, society, sociology, United States, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
The Bible talks about listening quite frequently. The authors ask people to listen to what is being communicated.

Proverbs 16:20
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Unfortunately, it often involves people NOT listening to the LORD and/or to others and, instead, going their/our own way. In my own life, things don’t go so well when I do that. I think the same is true on a more general/corporate level as well.

For example, Israel in ancient days thought and behaved this way too. Read 1 Kings and 2 Kings to see what I mean. They didn’t listen to the LORD. They didn’t listen to instruction. They thought they knew it all. They didn’t give credit to Whom credit was due. They made up their own gods and worshipped the things that they created.

The LORD wanted to bless them — and us. But they didn’t — and we still don’t — want to listen and submit to His will at times (even though His will is meant to BLESS US).

I used to see the LORD looking down from heaven, with a stern or disappointed look on His face. He was tapping His foot, and had His arms folded. I imagined Him saying, “Daniel, get your stuff together!!!” I didn’t see Him as being on my team.

Through the years He has shown me that He IS on my team and that He is active in my heart, mind, and life. He is full of grace, truth, patience, forgiveness, vulnerable love, and wisdom. He’s awesome. I love Him and His ways — but that’s taken me decades to be able to say that.

He wants what is best for us. He gave us gifts and wants us to use those gifts to serve others.

Some scripture for us

On 07/06/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Proverbs 15:22 NIV

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Matthew 7:12 NIV

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Proverbs 15:23 NIV

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

Acts 10:34-35 NIV

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Proverbs 15:31-33 NIV

Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

Our Learning Future from A to Z — from gettingsmart.com by Louka Parry

Key Points

Schools and organizations are human systems, filled with opportunities.
And yet there is a profound difference between building from a foundation of schooling and building from a foundation of learning.

Rather than simply replicate and scale the arrangements of schooling, we must seize the possibility to shift from a schooling system to a learning ecosystem to truly empower learners, educators, and parents to create a virtuous future for themselves and their communities.

Louka Parry

Our challenge will be how we choose to redesign and remake our experiences, environments, and ecosystems so that we unlock our true creative potential and thrive in the future.

Some scripture for us

On 06/20/2023, in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, religion, by Daniel Christian

Psalms 70:4 NIV

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”

John 21:25 NIV — from bible.com

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Psalms 71:15 NIV

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.

Learning Ecosystems

Some scripture/wisdom for us

Some scripture/wisdom for us

Some scripture/wisdom for us

Why Christians need to support diversity professionals, not demonize them [Loyd-Paige]

Some scripture for us — including, “What does the LORD require of us?”

Some food for our hearts and minds

Some scripture/wisdom for us

Some wisdom for us

Some scripture for us

Some scripture for us

“Do you remember a time when someone truly listened to you?” [Mehrabi]

Some scripture for us

Some scripture for us

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